Image recording apparatus comprising liquid supplying device having tank and cartridge

ABSTRACT

According to one aspect, the disclosure provides an image recording apparatus including a liquid supplying device. The liquid supplying device includes a tank, a cartridge, an atmospheric communication portion, and a recording portion. The tank has a second storage chamber configured to store liquid, a liquid passage in communication with the second storage chamber, and a gas passage in communication with the second storage chamber. The atmospheric communication portion includes a buffer tank defining a buffer chamber configured to store gas, a single communication flow passage allowing the buffer chamber to communicate with the second storage chamber, and an air communication passage allowing the buffer chamber to communicate with an atmosphere. When the cartridge is attached to the tank, the buffer chamber is positioned below the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber is positioned below the buffer chamber.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/243,955, filed Apr. 29, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/437,404, filed Jun. 11, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No.10,994,546, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/904,649, filed Feb. 26, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,322,586, whichfurther claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-037762filed Feb. 28, 2017. The entire content of these applications isincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an image recording apparatus includinga liquid supplying device having a tank and a cartridge.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, there has been known an image recording apparatusprovided with a cartridge in which ink is stored, a sub tank connectedto a recording head, and a liquid flow passage and a gas flow passagewhich connects the cartridge and the sub tank. The cartridge is disposedvertically above the sub tank. The liquid flow passage and the gas flowpassage connect the cartridge and the sub tank in the verticaldirection. The liquid flow passage and the gas flow passage are openedto the lower surface of the cartridge and the upper surface of the subtank, respectively. Further, an air introduction opening is provided onan upper wall of the sub tank such that the air introduction openingpenetrates the upper wall, and gas is supplied to the gas flow passagefrom the air introduction opening through the inside of the sub tank.

SUMMARY

In the sub tank, the liquid flow passage extends below the gas flowpassage, and the opening position of the gas flow passage is higher thanthe opening position of the liquid flow passage. When the cartridge isconnected in a state in which there is no ink in the sub tank, such aswhen replacing the cartridge, the ink in the cartridge naturally dropsvia the liquid flow passage and is introduced into the sub tank. At thistime, the air in the sub tank having the same volume as the amount ofintroduced ink is introduced into the cartridge from the airintroduction opening via the gas flow passage (gas-liquid substitution).The gas-liquid substitution is performed until the opening of the gasflow passage is blocked, and the ink is stored in the sub tank.

When ink is ejected from the recording head at the time of executing therecording operation, the ink in the sub tank decreases and the liquidlevel of the ink in the sub tank decreases. As a result, since theopening of the gas flow passage is opened, ink is supplied from thecartridge into the sub tank. When the level of ink in the sub tank risesdue to the introduction of the ink and the opening of the gas flowpassage is blocked, the supply of ink from the cartridge is stopped. Inkis replenished from the cartridge to the sub tank so as to compensatefor consumption of ink in the recording head, and the height of theliquid level of the ink in the sub tank is kept at the opening positionof the gas flow passage. Therefore, by exchanging the cartridge in whichthe ink is empty with the cartridge filled with ink while the sub tankis disposed in a printer, the printer can be continuously used.

In the liquid supplying device, the liquid flow passage is formed by aninner surface of a cylinder, which is a cylindrical surface. Thecapillary pressure in liquid exerted on the cylindrical surface isuniform in its circumferential direction. Since the capillary pressureis unbiased in the circumferential direction, the meniscus of liquid,which is curvature of the liquid surface, is hardly broken. If themeniscus is maintained, the liquid cannot flow in the liquid flowpassage. Accordingly, the gas-liquid substitution cannot be carried outeven when ink is consumed by the recording head to reduce the ink amountin the sub tank, and the sub tank therefore cannot be replenished withink.

The disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and anobject thereof is to provide a liquid supplying device in which thegas-liquid substitution can be well performed.

According to one aspect, the disclosure provides an image recordingapparatus including a liquid supplying device. The liquid supplyingdevice includes a tank; a cartridge configured to be attachable to thetank, and having a first storage chamber; an atmospheric communicationportion; and a recording portion configured to eject liquid suppliedfrom the tank. The tank has a second storage chamber configured to storethe liquid, a liquid passage in communication with the second storagechamber, and a gas passage in communication with the second storagechamber. The atmospheric communication portion includes a buffer tankdefining a buffer chamber configured to store gas, a singlecommunication flow passage allowing the buffer chamber to communicatewith the second storage chamber, and an air communication passageallowing the buffer chamber to communicate with an atmosphere. In anattachment state where the cartridge is attached to the tank such thatthe first storage chamber is in communication with both of the liquidpassage and the gas passage, the buffer chamber is positioned below thefirst storage chamber and the second storage chamber is positioned belowthe buffer chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The particular features and advantages of the disclosure will becomeapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a multifunction machine according to anembodiment in a state where a cover is at a close position;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the multifunction machine according tothe embodiment in a state where the cover is at an open position;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a printer according to theembodiment indicating an internal structure of the printer;

FIG. 3 is a planner view indicating disposition of a carriage and an inksupplying device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ink supplying device according tothe embodiment as viewed from a left front side thereof;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line V-V in FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 4 in astate where an ink cartridge is detached;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 4indicating a sub tank and a vicinity thereof;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line VIII-VIII of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line IX-IX of FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. 4indicating the sub tank and a vicinity of the sub tank;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the sub tank and a buffer tankaccording to the embodiment as viewed from a left front side thereof;

FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XIIA-XIIA of FIG.10 ; and

FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XIIB-XIIB of FIG.11 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described. It isnoted that the embodiments described below are merely examples of thedisclosure and the embodiments of the disclosure can be appropriatelymodified without changing the scope of the disclosure. Further, on thebasis of the posture (the posture of FIG. 1 , and referred to as “useposture” occasionally) in which a multifunction machine 10 and an inkcartridge 50 attached to the multifunction machine 10 are installed on ahorizontal plane so as to be usable, an up-down direction 7 is defined,and a front-rear direction 8 is defined by a surface provided with anopening 13 of the multifunction machine 10 as the front surface, and aleft-right direction 9 is defined when the multifunction machine 10 isviewed from the front side. In the embodiments, at the use posture, theup-down direction 7 corresponds to the vertical direction, and thefront-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9 correspond to thehorizontal direction.

Embodiment

Hereinafter, the multifunction machine 10 and the ink supplying device15 according to the embodiment will be described.

Entire Configuration of Multifunction Machine 10

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the multifunction machine 10 (anexample of an image recording device) has a substantially rectangularparallelepiped shape. The multifunction machine 10 has a printer unit11, a scanner unit 12, and an operation panel 17. The printer unit 11 ispositioned in a lower part of the multifunction machine 10, and recordsan image on a sheet 28 (see FIG. 2 ) in an ink jet recording method. Thescanner unit 12 is a device having a scan function and is positioned inan upper part of the printer unit 11. The printer unit 11 is providedwith a casing 14 having an opening 13 that is opened forward, and an inksupplying device 15 positioned on a right side of the opening 13 insidethe casing 14. The operation panel 17 is positioned in a front part ofthe scanner unit 12. The operation panel 17 is operated by a user so asto cause the multifunction machine 10 to execute image recording by theprinter unit 11 or image reading by the scanner unit 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , a feeding unit 16, a feeding tray 20, adischarge tray 21, a pair of conveying rollers 45, a recording unit 24,a pair of discharge rollers 46, and a platen 42 are disposed inside thecasing 14.

Feeding Tray 20, Discharge Tray 21

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the feeding tray 20 can be inserted into andremoved from the casing 14 through the opening 13 along the front-reardirection 8. The opening 13 is positioned on the front surface of themultifunction machine 10 and at the central portion in the left-rightdirection 9. As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the feeding tray 20 can supporta plurality of stacked sheets 28. The discharge tray 21 is disposed inthe upper part of the feeding tray 20 and is inserted and extractedalong the front-rear direction 8 together with the feeding tray 20. Thedischarge tray 21 supports the sheet 28 discharged by the pair ofdischarge rollers 46.

Feeding Unit 16

The feeding unit 16 feeds the sheet 28 supported by the feeding tray 20to a conveying path 38. As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the feeding unit 16is provided with a feeding roller 25, a feeding arm 26, and a shaft 27.The feeding roller 25 is rotatably supported at the distal end of thefeeding arm 26. Driving is transmitted to the feeding roller 25 from afeeding motor (not illustrated). The feeding arm 26 is rotatablysupported by the shaft 27 that is supported by a frame of the printerunit 11. The feeding arm 26 is pivotally urged toward the feeding tray20 by its own weight or an elastic force of a spring.

Hereinafter, the rotation of the feeding roller 25, the conveying roller34, and the discharge roller 36 related to the conveyance of the sheet28 in a conveying direction 38A for conveying the sheet 28 is indicatedas “normal rotation”.

Conveying Path 38

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the conveying path 38 indicates a space whichis partially formed by an outer guide member 18 and an inner guidemember 19 facing each other at a predetermined interval inside theprinter unit 11. The conveying path 38 is a path extending rearward fromthe rear end portion of the feeding tray 20. The conveying path 38 isbent forward as making U-turn, while extending upward at the rearportion of the printer unit 11, and reaches the discharge tray 21 viathe space between the recording unit 24 and the platen 42. Asillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the conveying path 38 between the pair ofconveying rollers 45 and the pair of discharge rollers 46 is provided atthe substantially center of the multifunction machine 10 in theleft-right direction 9, and extends in the front-rear direction 8. Theconveying direction 38A of the sheet 28 in the conveying path 38 isindicated by the arrow in FIG. 2 .

Pair of Conveying Rollers 45

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the pair of conveying rollers 45 ispositioned upstream of the recording unit 24 in the conveying direction38A. The pair of conveying rollers 45 has a conveying roller 34 and apinch roller 35 that face each other. The driving is transmitted to theconveying roller 34 from a conveying motor (not illustrated), and theconveying roller 34 rotates in a normal direction or a reversedirection. The pinch roller 35 rotates with the rotation of theconveying roller 34. The sheet 28 is conveyed in the conveying direction38A, while being nipped between the conveying roller 34 and the pinchroller 35 rotating in the normal direction.

Pair of Discharge Rollers 46

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the pair of discharge rollers 46 is disposeddownstream of the recording unit 24 in the conveying direction 38A. Thepair of discharge rollers 46 has a discharge roller 36 and a spur 37facing each other. The driving force generated by a conveying motor (notillustrated) is transmitted to the discharge roller 36 to rotate in thenormal direction or the reverse direction. The spur 37 rotates with therotation of the discharge roller 36. The sheet 28 is conveyed in theconveying direction 38A, while being nipped between the discharge roller36 and the spur 37 rotating in the normal direction.

Recording Unit 24

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the recording unit 24 is positioned betweenthe pair of conveying rollers 45 and the pair of discharge rollers 46 inthe conveying direction 38A. The recording unit 24 faces the platen 42in the up-down direction 7 across the conveying path 38. The recordingunit 24 is provided with a carriage 23, and a recording head 39 mountedon the carriage 23.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the carriage 23 is a guide rail is supportedby guide rails 43 and 44 each extending in the left-right direction 9.The guide rails 43 and 44 are separated in the front-rear direction 8and supported by a frame (not illustrated). The carriage 23 is connectedto a known belt mechanism provided on the guide rail 44. Driving forcegenerated by a carriage driving motor (not illustrated) is transmittedto the belt mechanism, and the belt mechanism circulates. As the beltmechanism rotates, the carriage 23 reciprocally moves in the left-rightdirection 9, while being guided by the guide rails 43 and 44. The rangeof movement of the carriage 23 extends to the right and to the left ofthe width 38B of the conveying path 38, as indicated by the alternatelong and short dashed line of FIG. 3 .

The recording head 39 and the four sub tanks 100 provided in the inksupplying device 15 are connected by four ink tubes 32. The recordinghead 39 is connected to a control board (not illustrated) by a flexibleflat cable 33.

The four sub tanks 100 are a magenta sub tank 100M, a cyan sub tank100C, a yellow sub tank 100Y, and a black sub tank 100B. The magenta subtank 100M, the cyan sub tank 100C, the yellow sub tank 100Y, and theblack sub tank 100B are collectively referred to as sub tanks 100,unless it is particularly necessary to distinguish in thisspecification.

The four ink tubes 32 include a yellow ink tube 32Y, a cyan ink tube32C, a magenta ink tube 32M, and a black ink tube 32B. The yellow inktube 32Y, the cyan ink tube 32C, the magenta ink tube 32M, and the blackink tube 32B are collectively referred to as ink tubes 32 unless it isparticularly necessary to distinguish in this specification. The fourink tubes 32 are bundled together.

The flexible flat cable 33 electrically connects the control board, onwhich the control unit is mounted, and the recording head 39. Theflexible flat cable 33 transmits a control signal, which is output fromthe control unit, to the recording head 39.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , a plurality of nozzles 40 is disposed on thelower surface of the recording head 39. The distal ends of the pluralityof nozzles 40 are exposed from the lower surface of the recording head39. The recording head 39 ejects ink from the nozzle 40 as minute inkdroplets. In the course of movement of the carriage 23, the recordinghead 39 ejects the ink droplets toward the sheet 28 supported by theplaten 42. As a result, an image is recorded on the sheet 28. Further,the ink stored in the four sub tanks 100 is consumed.

Platen 42

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the platen 42 is disposed between thepair of conveying rollers 45 and the pair of discharge rollers 46 in theconveying path 38. The platen 42 is disposed to face the recording unit24 in the up-down direction 7 across the conveying path 38. The platen42 supports the sheet 28 conveyed by the pair of conveying rollers 45from below.

Cover 48

As illustrated in FIG. 1B, an opening 47 is formed in the right frontpart of the casing 14. An ink supplying device 15 is housed in thecasing 14, and the front surface of the ink supplying device 15 isexposed from the opening 47. A cover 48 capable of opening and closingthe opening 47 is attached to the casing 14. The lower end portion ofthe cover 48 is supported by the casing 14 so as to be rotatable aboutan axis extending in the left-right direction 9 below the opening 47.The cover 48 is rotatable between a close position (a positionillustrated in FIG. 1A) for closing the opening 47 and an open position(a position illustrated in FIG. 1B) for opening the opening 47.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the cover 48 has a light-transmitting portion49. The light-transmitting portion 49 has translucency so that theinternal structure can be visually recognized from the outside of thecover 48. When the cover 48 is at the close position, the front surfaceof the ink cartridge 50 attached to the ink supplying device 15 can bevisually recognized from the light-transmitting portion 49.

Ink Supplying Device 15

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 , the ink supplying device 15 (anexample of a liquid supplying device) is provided with a housing case71, four sub tanks 100, an atmospheric communication portion 70 (seeFIGS. 5 and 11 ), and a magenta ink cartridge 50M, a cyan ink cartridge50C, a yellow ink cartridge 50Y, and a black ink cartridge 50B.

Ink Cartridge 50

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 , The magenta ink cartridge 50M, thecyan ink cartridge 50C, the yellow ink cartridge 50Y, and the black inkcartridge 50B are collectively referred to as ink cartridges 50 (anexample of cartridges) unless it is particularly necessary todistinguish in this specification.

FIG. 4 illustrates a state in which only the magenta ink cartridge 50Mpositioned at the leftmost side in the left-right direction 9 among thefour ink cartridges 50 is housed in the housing case 71.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the ink cartridge 50 is provided witha cartridge main body 51 and a joint receiving portion 52. The cartridgemain body 51 has a first storage chamber 53 that stores ink (an exampleof liquid).

The cartridge main body 51 has a substantially rectangularparallelepiped box shape. The cartridge main body 51 has a substantiallyrectangular shape as viewed from the up-down direction 7 and thefront-rear direction 8. The cartridge main body 51 has a protrudingportion 65 protruding downward at the front end portion of the cartridgemain body 51. The cartridge main body 51 has an upper wall 54, asub-lower wall 55, a right wall 56 (see FIG. 4 ), a left wall 57 (seeFIG. 4 ), a rear wall 58, a front wall 59, and a lower wall 60. Thelower wall 60 is positioned at the front part and the lower end part ofthe cartridge main body 51, and is positioned below the sub-lower wall55. The sub-lower wall 55 is positioned rearward of the lower wall 60.The cartridge main body 51 has a communication port 61 which is openedrearward (an example of the horizontal direction) at the protrudingportion 65 and in communication with the first storage chamber. Thecommunication port 61 is an opening which is defined by the sub-lowerwall 55, the lower wall 60, the right wall 56, and the left wall 57. Thecommunication port 61 is an example of a communicating opening.

On the upper wall 54, an abutment portion 64 protruding upward isprovided at the central portion in the front-rear direction 8. Theabutment portion 64 is a portion that abuts against a lock lever 79 (tobe described later) of the housing case 71.

The upper surface of the sub-lower wall 55 that defines the bottomsurface of the first storage chamber 53 is inclined downward toward theprotruding portion 65 in the front-rear direction 8.

The joint receiving portion 52 has a cylindrical shape extendingrearward from the portion surrounding the communication port 61 in thecartridge main body 51. The joint receiving portion 52 is a portion intowhich a joint 102 (to be described later) of the sub tank 100 isinserted.

FIG. 5 illustrates an attachment state where the ink cartridge 50 isattached to the sub tank 100. FIG. 6 illustrates a separated state wherethe ink cartridge 50 is separated from the sub tank 100. The attachmentstate will be illustrated in detail below.

The joint receiving portion 52 is provided with a plug member 62 capableof closing the communication port 61, and a spring 63 which urges theplug member 62 rearward. As illustrated in FIG. 6 , in a state in whichno external force is applied to the ink cartridge 50, the plug member 62is at the position which closes the communication port 61. The spring 63extends in the front-rear direction 8 between the plug member 62 and thefront wall 59, and can be compressed in the front-rear direction 8. Asillustrated in FIG. 5 , when a forward external force greater than theelastic force of the spring 63 is applied to the plug member 62 by thejoint 102, the plug member 62 moves forward and is separated from thecommunication port 61.

Housing Case 71

The housing case 71 has a rectangular parallelepiped box shape having anopen front end. The housing case 71 has an upper wall 72, a lower wall73, a right wall 74, a left wall 75, a rear wall 76, and three partitionwalls 77. The upper wall 72, the lower wall 73, the right wall 74, theleft wall 75, and the rear wall 76 define an internal space 78 that hasan open front end. The three partition walls 77 are walls parallel tothe right wall 74 and the left wall 75, and partition the internal space78 into four spaces. Each of the four ink cartridges 50 can be mountedor attached in each of the partitioned four spaces.

Lock Lever 79

As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 , the housing case 71 is providedwith the lock lever 79 that holds the ink cartridge 50 in the internalspace 78. The lock lever 79 is a plate-like member extending in thefront-rear direction. The central portion of the lock lever 79 isprovided on the upper wall 72 so as to be rotatable about an axisextending in the left-right direction 9. The lock lever 79 rotatesbetween a lock position inclined rearward and an unlock positioninclined forward. In a state where no external force is applied, thelock lever 79 is inclined rearward by its own weight and positioned atthe lock position. At the lock position, the rear end portion of thelock lever 79 abuts against the front surface of the abutment portion 64of the ink cartridge 50 in the internal space 78, and restricts the inkcartridge 50 from moving forward in the front-rear direction 8. When thefront end portion of the lock lever 79 of the lock position is presseddownward by the user's finger, the lock lever 79 rotates from the lockposition to the unlock position. At the unlock position, the rear endportion of the lock lever 79 is positioned above the front surface ofthe abutment portion 64. Since the lock lever 79 at the unlock positiondoes not abut against the abutment portion 64 of the ink cartridge 50which moves forward in the front-rear direction 8, the ink cartridge 50can be detached from the housing case 71.

Sub Tank 100

FIGS. 4 to 11 illustrate a sub tank 100 (an example of a tank). The subtank 100 is positioned below the lower wall 73 of the housing case 71.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 , the sub tank 100 is provided with a tank mainbody 101 and the joint 102. A second storage chamber 105 which storesink is formed inside the tank main body 101. The sub tank 100 isprovided with a liquid flow passage 103 (example of a liquid passage)and a gas flow passage 104 (example of a gas passage) that communicatewith the second storage chamber 105. The liquid flow passage 103 and thegas flow passage 104 are formed inside the tank main body 101 and insidethe joint 102. Further, the sub tank 100 is provided with an atmosphericcommunication port 106 (see FIGS. 9, 10, and 12A) that causes the secondstorage chamber 105 to communicate with the outside. The atmosphericcommunication port 106 is an example of an air communication portion.

Liquid Flow Passage 103 and Gas Flow Passage 104

As illustrated in FIG. 7 , the liquid flow passage 103 and the gas flowpassage 104 are positioned in parallel.

The liquid flow passage 103 has a first opening 131, a second opening132, a vertical portion 133 as an example of a first vertical portion,and a horizontal portion 134 as an example of a first horizontalportion. The first opening 131 is an opening which is formed on one endside (a rear end side) of the liquid flow passage 103 and communicateswith the second storage chamber 105. The first opening 131 is openedalong the up-down direction 7. The second opening 132 is an openingwhich is formed on the other end side (a front end side) opposite to theone end side of the liquid flow passage 103 and is opened to the outsideor atmosphere. The second opening 132 is opened along the front-reardirection 8. The second opening 132 is positioned inside the firststorage chamber 53 of the ink cartridge 50 in the attachment state ofthe ink cartridge 50. The vertical portion 133 is a portion extendingupward (an example of a vertical direction) from the first opening 131in the liquid flow passage 103. The horizontal portion 134 is a portionextending rearward (an example of a horizontal direction) from thesecond opening 132 in the liquid flow passage 103. The upper end portionof the vertical portion 133 is connected to the rear end portion of thehorizontal portion 134.

The gas flow passage 104 has a first opening 141, a second opening 142,a vertical portion 143 as an example of a second vertical portion, and ahorizontal portion 144 as an example of a second horizontal portion. Thefirst opening 141 is an opening which is formed on one end side (a rearend side) of the gas flow passage 104 and allows communication betweenthe gas flow passage 104 and the second storage chamber 105. The firstopening 141 is opened along the up-down direction 7. The second opening142 is an opening which is formed on the other end side (a front endside) opposite to the one end side of the gas flow passage 104, and isopened to the outside or atmosphere. The second opening 142 is openedalong the front-rear direction 8. The second opening 142 communicateswith the first storage chamber 53 of the ink cartridge 50 in a statewhere the ink cartridge 50 is attached to the sub tank 100. The verticalportion 143 is a portion extending upward (an example of the verticaldirection) from the first opening 141 in the gas flow passage 104. Thehorizontal portion 144 is a portion extending rearward (an example ofthe horizontal direction) from the second opening 142 in the gas flowpassage 104. The upper end portion of the vertical portion 143 isconnected to the rear end portion of the horizontal portion 144.

Tank Main Body 101

The tank main body 101 has an approximately rectangular parallelepipedouter wall. The tank main body 101 has a substantially T shape (seeFIGS. 9 and 10 ) as viewed in the up-down direction 7, has asubstantially rectangular shape (see FIG. 8 ) as viewed in thefront-rear direction 8, and has an L shape as viewed in the left-rightdirection 9 (see FIGS. 4 to 7 ).

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 11 , the outer wall of the tank main body101 has a rear upper wall 107, a bent upper wall 130, a front upper wall108, a lower wall 109, two rear side walls 110, two front bent sidewalls 111, a rear wall 112, and a front wall 113. The rear upper wall107 is a wall that extends forward, while being inclined upward from therear end with respect to the horizontal plane. The bent upper wall 130is a wall extending from the front end of the rear upper wall 107 and isbent upward from the front. The front upper wall 108 extends forwardfrom the upper end of the bent upper wall 130 in parallel with thehorizontal plane. The lower wall 109 extends in the front-rear direction8 in parallel with the horizontal plane. The lower wall 109 has a Tshape as viewed from the up-down direction 7. The rear side wall 110connects the rear upper wall 107 and the lower wall 109 in the up-downdirection 7. The rear side wall 110 has a substantially rectangularshape as viewed from the left-right direction 9. As illustrated in FIG.9 , the inside of the tank main body 101 is divided into four sectionsby three rear side walls 110. In other words, the rear side wall 110 isshared by the adjacent sections inside the tank main body 101. The frontbent side wall 111 connects the bent upper wall 130, the front upperwall 108 and the lower wall 109 in the up-down direction 7. The frontbent side wall 111 has a substantially rectangular shape as viewed fromthe left-right direction 9, and has an L shape in which the cornerportion draws an arc shape as viewed in the up-down direction 7. Therear wall 112 extends upward from the rear end portion of the lower wall109, and is connected to the two rear side walls 110 and the rear upperwall 107 positioned on the left and right sides. The front wall 113extends upward from the front end portion of the lower wall 109, and isconnected to the two front bent side walls 111 positioned on the leftand right sides.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 11 , a communication port 129communicating with the second storage chamber 105 is formed on the lowerwall 109. One end portion of the ink tube 32 is connected to thecommunication port 129, and the second storage chamber 105 and therecording head 39 are connected in communication with each other via theink tube 32.

A cylindrical inner tubular portion 114 extending in the front-reardirection 8 is provided at the front end portion and the upper portionof the tank main body 101. The inside of the inner tubular portion 114communicates with an opening formed by the front wall 113, the two frontbent side walls 111 positioned on the left and right sides, and thefront upper wall 108. A rear end portion of the joint 102 can beattached to the inner tubular portion 114. In the attachment state inwhich the joint 102 is attached to the inner tubular portion 114, theinside of the inner tubular portion 114 communicates with the inside ofthe joint 102.

Wide-Width Portion 150 and Narrow-Width Portion 151

As illustrated in FIG. 10 , the tank main body 101 has a wide-widthportion 150 and a narrow-width portion 151 arranged in the front-reardirection 8. The wide-width portion 150 is a portion which is positionedat the rear portion of the tank main body 101 in the front-reardirection 8 and includes the two rear side walls 110 and the rear wall112. The narrow-width portion 151 is a portion which is positioned atthe front end portion (an example of one end portion in the firstdirection) of the tank main body 101 in the front-rear direction 8, andincludes the two front bent side walls 111 and the front wall 113. Thewidth of the narrow-width portion 151 in the left-right direction 9 (anexample of a second direction orthogonal to the first direction) issmaller than the width of the wide-width portion 150 in the left-rightdirection 9. The second storage chamber 105 is formed over thewide-width portion 150 and the narrow-width portion 151.

As illustrated in FIG. 8 , the width of the wide-width portion 150 inthe left-right direction 9 is substantially equal to the width of theink cartridge 50 in the left-right direction 9. Therefore, the width ofthe narrow-width portion 151 in the left-right direction 9 is smallerthan the width of the ink cartridge 50 in the left-right direction 9.

Vertical Wall 115 and Horizontal Wall 116

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 11 , the tank main body 101 is providedwith a vertical wall 115 and a horizontal wall 116 at the front part andthe upper part of the tank main body 101.

The vertical wall 115 extends in the up-down direction 7 and positionedbetween the front wall 113 and the bent upper wall 130 in the front-reardirection 8. The vertical wall 115 connects the two front bent sidewalls 111 positioned on the left and right sides, and partitions thespace defined by the front wall 113, the front upper wall 108, the bentupper wall 130, and the two front bent side walls 111 into the front andrear parts. The lower end position of the vertical wall 115 is theposition of the first opening 131 of the liquid flow passage 103 in theup-down direction 7, and the position of the first opening 141 of thegas flow passage 104 in the up-down direction 7. The lower end level ofthe vertical wall 115 in the up-down direction 7 is equal to the lowerend level of the front end of the rear upper wall 107. That is, theupper surface of the second storage chamber 105 is defined by a virtualplane passing through the lower end position of the vertical wall 115and parallel to the horizontal plane, and the lower surface of the rearupper wall 107.

The horizontal wall 116 extends forward from the upper end of thevertical wall 115. The horizontal wall 116 extends to the inside of theinner tubular portion 114. The horizontal wall 116 connects the twofront bent side walls 111 positioned on the left and right sides, andconnects the inner surface of the inner tubular portion 114 in theleft-right direction 9. The horizontal wall 116 partitions the spacedefined by the front upper wall 108 and the two front bent side walls111, and the space defined by the inner tubular portion 114, into theupper and lower parts.

As illustrated in FIG. 10 , the vertical portion 133 of the liquid flowpassage 103 is defined by the vertical wall 115, the front wall 113, andthe two front bent side walls 111. The shape of the cross section of thevertical portion 133 orthogonal to the up-down direction 7 isrectangular. The vertical portion 133 of the liquid flow passage 103continuously extends along the two front bent side walls 111partitioning the second storage chamber 105, and the two front bent sidewalls 111 have surfaces defining the vertical portion 133. Therefore,the width of the vertical portion 133 in the left-right direction 9 isthe same as the width of the second storage chamber 105 defined by thenarrow-width portion 151 in the left-right direction 9.

As illustrated in FIG. 10 , the vertical portion 143 of the gas flowpassage 104 is defined by the bent upper wall 130, the vertical wall115, and the two front bent side walls 111. The shape of the crosssection of the vertical portion 143 of the gas flow passage 104orthogonal to the up-down direction 7 is rectangular. The verticalportion 143 continuously extends along the two front bent side walls 111partitioning the second storage chamber 105, and the two front bent sidewalls 111 have surfaces defining the vertical portion 143. Therefore,the width of the vertical portion 143 of the gas flow passage 104 in theleft-right direction 9 is the same as the width of the second storagechamber 105 in the left-right direction 9 defined by the narrow-widthportion 151.

As illustrated in FIG. 10 , a length 149 of the first opening 141 of thegas flow passage 104 in the front-rear direction 8 (an example of thehorizontal direction) is longer than a length 148 of the first opening131 of the liquid flow passage 103 in the front-rear direction 8 (anexample of the horizontal direction). The length of the first opening141 of the gas flow passage 104 in the left-right direction 9 is equalto the length of the first opening 131 of the liquid flow passage 103 inthe left-right direction 9. Therefore, an opening area of the firstopening 141 of the gas flow passage 104 is greater than the opening areaof the first opening 131 of the liquid flow passage 103.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 , in the vertical portion 143 of the gas flowpassage 104, the opening area of the gas flow passage 104 is enlarged asit approaches the first opening 141 of the gas flow passage 104. In thevertical portion 133 of the liquid flow passage 103, the opening area ofthe liquid flow passage 103 is constant in the up-down direction 7.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 , the horizontal portion 134 of the liquid flowpassage 103 in the tank main body 101 is defined by the front upper wall108, the horizontal wall 116, the two front bent side walls 111, and theinner tubular portion 114. The horizontal portion 144 of the gas flowpassage 104 in the tank main body 101 is defined by the horizontal wall116, the two front bent side walls 111, and the inner tubular portion114.

First Rib 117

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 11 , the tank main body 101 is providedwith a first rib 117 continuous with the vertical wall 115. The firstrib 117 protrudes from the front bent side wall 111 and extends downwardfrom the vertical wall 115. The first rib 117 and the lower wall 109 areseparated from each other. The first ribs 117 are provided on each ofthe two front bent side walls 111 positioned on the left and rightsides, and the two first ribs 117 are positioned in one second storagechamber 105 so as to be separated in the left-right direction 9.

Joint 102

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 9 and 11 , the joint 102 is provided with ajoint main body 118, an inner wall 119, a plug member 120 (see FIGS. 6and 7 ), and a spring 121 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

Joint Main Body 118

As illustrated in FIG. 7 , the joint main body 118 is provided with anouter tubular portion 122 positioned at the rear end portion, a distalend portion 123 positioned at the front end portion, and a main bodyportion 124 that connects the outer tubular portion 122 and the distalend portion 123. The outer tubular portion 122 has a cylindrical shapeand extends in the front-rear direction 8. The outer tubular portion 122is fitted into the inner tubular portion 114 of the tank main body 101.As a result, the joint main body 118 is fixed to the tank main body 101.The distal end portion 123 has a disc shape having an axis in thefront-rear direction 8 as an axial center. The main body portion 124 hasa cylindrical shape and extends in the front-rear direction 8. An upperopening portion 125 and a lower opening portion 126, which are eachopened upward and downward, are formed at the front end portion of themain body portion 124.

Partition Wall 127 and Second Rib 128

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the inner wall 119 is positionedinside the joint main body 118. The inner wall 119 extends rearward fromthe distal end portion 123 beyond the outer tubular portion 122. Theinner wall 119 is provided with a partition wall 127 and a second rib128. As illustrated in FIG. 8 , the inner wall 119 has a T shape asviewed in the front-rear direction 8. The rear end surface of thepartition wall 127 is in contact with the front end surface of thehorizontal wall 116 in the tank main body 101. By the partition wall 127and the horizontal wall 116, the internal space of the joining portionbetween the joint main body 118 and the tank main body 101 ispartitioned into the liquid flow passage 103 and the gas flow passage104.

The partition wall 127 is a wall that expands in the left-rightdirection 9 inside the joint main body 118. The partition wall 127extends rearward from the distal end portion 123. The internal space ofthe joint main body 118 is partitioned into an upper part and a lowerpart by the partition wall 127.

The second rib 128 protrudes downward from the central portion of thepartition wall 127 in the left-right direction 9. The second rib 128extends rearward from the distal end portion 123. There is a gap betweenthe second rib 128 and the inner surface of the joint main body 118.

The horizontal portion 134 of the liquid flow passage 103 in the joint102 is defined by the inner surface of the joint main body 118 and thelower surface of the inner wall 119. The cross section of the horizontalportion 134 of the liquid flow passage 103 in the joint 102 has asubstantially semicircular shape. More precisely, in the cross sectionof the horizontal portion 134, the semicircular upper portion is dividedinto right and left sides by the second rib 128, and the semicircularlower portion is connected without being divided into the right and leftsides. The horizontal portion 144 of the gas flow passage 104 in thejoint 102 is defined by the inner surface of the joint main body 118 andthe upper surface of the inner wall 119. The cross section of thehorizontal portion 144 of the gas flow passage 104 in the joint 102 hasa semicircular shape.

Plug Member 120 and Spring 121

The plug member 120 is a cylindrical member, and is positioned outsidethe main body portion 124 of the joint main body 118. The plug member120 is movable in the front-rear direction 8 along the main body portion124. The front end portion of the spring 121 is fixed to the rear endportion of the plug member 120, and the rear end portion thereof abutsagainst a buffer tank 90 (to be described later) of the atmosphericcommunication portion 70 and the outer tubular portion 122 of the jointmain body 118. The spring 121 urges the plug member 120 forward. In thestate in which no external force is applied, the plug member 120 ispositioned at the front end portion of the joint main body 118, andcloses the upper opening portion 125 and the lower opening portion 126.When a rearward external force greater than the elastic force of thespring 121 is applied to the plug member 120, the plug member 120 movesrearward, and the upper opening portion 125 and the lower openingportion 126 are opened. When the ink cartridge 50 is attached, the jointreceiving portion 52 of the ink cartridge 50 abuts against the plugmember 120. The plug member 120 abutting against the joint receivingportion 52 moves rearward by an external force applied when the inkcartridge 50 is attached.

Attachment State of Ink Cartridge 50

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7 , in the attachment state in which theink cartridge 50 is attached to the sub tank 100, the joint main body118 of the sub tank 100 is inserted into the joint receiving portion 52of the ink cartridge 50 in the front-rear direction 8, and is furtherinserted into the communication port 61. In this attachment state, thesecond opening 132 of the liquid flow passage 103 of the sub tank 100and the second opening 142 of the gas flow passage 104 enter the firststorage chamber 53 of the ink cartridge 50. As illustrated in FIGS. 4and 5 , the ink cartridge 50 can be separated from and attached to thesub tank 100 in the front-rear direction 8.

Layout of Ink Cartridge 50 and Sub Tank 100

The layout of the ink cartridge 50 and the sub tank 100 will bedescribed. The layout will be described on the assumption that the inkcartridge 50 is attached to the housing case 71, and the ink cartridge50 and the sub tank 100 are in the use posture as illustrated in FIG. 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 , the protruding portion 65 of the inkcartridge 50 is substantially at the same position as the joint 102 inthe up-down direction 7, but the portion above the protruding portion 65of the ink cartridge 50 is positioned above the joint 102. Therefore,most of the first storage chamber 53 of the ink cartridge 50 ispositioned above the joint 102. Also, the upper part of the sub tank100, that is, the upper part above the vicinity of the bent upper wall130 is positioned at the substantially same position as the joint 102.However, the portion below the vicinity of the bent upper wall 130 ofthe sub tank 100 is positioned below the joint 102. Therefore, most ofthe second storage chamber 105 of the sub tank 100 is positioned belowthe joint 102 in the up-down direction 7.

A portion above the protruding portion 65 of the first storage chamber53 is positioned above the horizontal portion 134 of the liquid flowpassage 103 and above the horizontal portion 144 of the gas flow passage104. The second storage chamber 105 is positioned below the horizontalportion 134 of the liquid flow passage 103 and below the horizontalportion 144 of the gas flow passage 104. The lower portion of the firststorage chamber 53 and the upper portion of the second storage chamber105 are positioned in a line extending in the front-rear direction 8.The volume of the first storage chamber 53 is larger than the volume ofthe second storage chamber 105.

The horizontal portion 144 of the gas flow passage 104 is positionedabove the horizontal portion 134 of the liquid flow passage 103.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 , the first opening 131 of the liquid flowpassage 103, the first opening 141 of the gas flow passage 104, and theatmospheric communication port 106 are disposed in this order from thecommunication port 61 of the first storage chamber 53 in the rearwarddirection or in the direction away from the first storage chamber 53.The position of the communication port 61 of the first storage chamber53 in the up-down direction 7 corresponds to the position in the up-downdirection 7 in which the first storage chamber 53 and the liquid flowpassage 103 communicate with each other, and the direction facingrearward from the communication port 61 at the position in the up-downdirection 7 is a direction away from the first storage chamber 53.

Atmospheric Communication Portion 70

As illustrated in FIGS. 5, 11, and 12 , the atmospheric communicationportion 70 is provided with the buffer tank 90, a communication flowpassage 145, and an atmospheric communication passage 147 as an exampleof an air communication passage.

Buffer Tank 90

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 11 , the buffer tank 90 is positionedbelow the housing case 71 and above the sub tank 100.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 11 , the buffer tank 90 is provided withan upper wall 91, a lower wall 92, two side walls 93, three partitionwalls 94, a rear wall 95, and a protruding wall 96. The upper wall 91 isa wall that spreads along a surface inclined with respect to ahorizontal plane. The lower wall 92 is a wall that bends upward towardthe front, while extending in the direction parallel to the horizontalplane from the rear. The front end portion of the lower wall 92 isconnected to the front end portion of the upper wall 91. The two sidewalls 93 are walls that connect both end portions of the upper wall 91and the lower wall 92 in the left-right direction 9 to each other in theup-down direction 7. The three partition walls 94 are walls disposed inparallel with the two side walls 93 in the left-right direction 9. Therear wall 95 is a wall which connects the rear end portions of the upperwall 91 and the lower wall 92 to each other. The protruding wall 96 is awall extending upward from the rear end portion of the upper wall 91. Agap is formed in the front-rear direction 8 between the rear wall 95 andthe protruding wall 96.

The lower wall 73 of the housing case 71 is positioned above the upperwall 91 of the buffer tank 90. The upper wall 91 of the buffer tank 90supports the lower wall 73 of the housing case 71. Therefore, the upperwall 91 of the buffer tank 90 can support the ink cartridge 50 housed inthe housing case 71 via the lower wall 73 of the housing case 71.

Buffer Chambers 97

The internal space defined by the upper wall 91, the lower wall 92, thetwo side walls 93, and the rear wall 95 is partitioned as four bufferchambers 97 by the three partition walls 94. The four buffer chambers 97are communicatively connected to the four sub tanks 100, respectively.The four buffer chambers 97 are spaces which can store air sent to thefirst storage chamber 53 as the ink in the first storage chamber 53 issupplied to the second storage chamber 105 by the gas-liquidsubstitution. The four buffer chambers 97 are positioned above therecording unit 24.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 , the buffer chamber 97 is positioned below thefirst storage chamber 53, and the second storage chamber 105 ispositioned below the buffer chamber 97. A part of the first storagechamber 53 and a part of the buffer chamber 97 formed in the protrudingportion 65 are positioned in a line extending in the front-reardirection 8 (an example of the horizontal direction). Further, a part ofthe protruding portion 65, a part of the joint 102, and a part of thebuffer tank 90 are positioned in a line extending in the front-reardirection 8 (an example of the horizontal direction). Further, a part ofthe first storage chamber 53 and a part of the buffer chamber 97 arepositioned in a line extending in the up-down direction 7.

Communication Flow Passage 145

As illustrated in FIG. 12A, the lower wall 92 of the buffer tank 90 hasan opening portion 98 communicating with the buffer chamber 97. The inksupplying device 15 is provided with a connection pipe 99 that connectsthe atmospheric communication port 106 of the tank main body 101 and theopening portion 98 of the buffer tank 90. The connection pipe 99 has acylindrical shape. A communication flow passage 145 that connects thesecond storage chamber 105 and the buffer chamber 97 is formed by theinner surface of the connection pipe 99. The communication flow passage145 extends in the up-down direction 7.

Atmospheric Communication Passage 147

As illustrated in FIG. 12B, an opening portion 146 is formed for eachbuffer chamber 97 at the rear end portion of the upper wall 91. Theupper wall 91 has four opening portions 146 behind the protruding wall96. The lower surface of the upper wall 91 is inclined upward in thedirection (rearward) opposite to the opening portion 98 along thefront-rear direction 8 (an example of the horizontal direction). Theopening portion 146 is opened to the upper wall 91 at the position wherethe lower surface of the upper wall 91 is positioned the highest in theup-down direction 7. That is, the atmospheric communication passage 147is connected to the buffer chamber 97 at a highest position of the upperwall 91 of the buffer tank 90. Here, the atmospheric communicationpassage 147 extending in the up-down direction 7 is formed by the frontsurface of the rear wall 95 and the rear surface of the protruding wall96. The atmospheric communication passage 147 extends upward from thebuffer chamber 97 via the opening portion 146, and communicates with theoutside of the casing 14 of the multifunction machine 10.

Operation in Embodiment

First, the flow of ink and air at the time of initial introduction inwhich the ink cartridge 50 is initially attached to the empty sub tank100 will be described.

In a state (a previous state) before the initial introductionillustrated in FIG. 6 , the ink cartridge 50 is separated from the subtank 100. In the previous state, the communication port 61 of the inkcartridge 50 is closed by the plug member 62, and the first storagechamber 53 is hermetically sealed by the ink cartridge 50. Therefore,the ink filled in the first storage chamber 53 does not leak to theoutside. On the other hand, in the previous state, the upper openingportion 125 and the lower opening portion 126 (see FIG. 7 ) of the subtank 100 are closed by the plug member 120. Therefore, the secondopening 132 of the liquid flow passage 103 and the second opening 142 ofthe gas flow passage 104 communicating with the second storage chamber105 are closed to the outside. The second storage chamber 105 has theatmospheric communication port 106 (see FIG. 7 ) and the communicationport 129 (see FIG. 7 ) as parts communicating with the outside, inaddition to the liquid flow passage 103 and the gas flow passage 104.The atmospheric communication port 106 communicates with the outside airof the multifunction machine 10 via the buffer chamber 97. Thecommunication port 129 communicates with the recording head 39 via theink tube 32. However, in a rest state of the recording head 39, the inkdoes not flow out of the communication port 129. Here, the secondstorage chamber 105 is not filled with ink, and the second storagechamber 105 is in an empty state.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7 , when the ink cartridge 50 is attachedto the sub tank 100, the plug member 62 which closes the communicationport 61 retreats forward against the urging force of the spring 63, andthe plug member 120, which closes the upper opening portion 125 and thelower opening portion 126, retreats rearward against the urging force ofthe spring 121. As a result, the first storage chamber 53 communicateswith the second storage chamber 105 via the liquid flow passage 103 andthe gas flow passage 104. Then, the ink in the first storage chamber 53of the ink cartridge 50 naturally drops via the liquid flow passage 103,and is introduced into the second storage chamber 105 of the sub tank100. Since the atmospheric communication port 106 is opened to theoutside air, air having the same volume as the amount of ink introducedinto the second storage chamber 105 is introduced into the first storagechamber 53 via the atmospheric communication port 106 and the gas flowpassage 104. In this way, the first storage chamber 53 substitutes airfor the ink in the first storage chamber 53 (gas-liquid substitution),the ink in the first storage chamber 53 is supplied to the secondstorage chamber 105.

As the gas-liquid substitution progresses, the liquid level of the inkin the second storage chamber 105 rises. When the liquid level of theink rises to reach the lower end position of the vertical wall 115, thefirst opening 141 of the gas flow passage 104 is closed. Then, since thegas-liquid substitution cannot be performed, the supply of ink from thefirst storage chamber 53 to the second storage chamber 105 is stopped.In this way, ink is supplied at the time of initial introduction.

Next, the flow of ink and air when the printing operation is executed bythe printer unit 11 in the attachment state of the ink cartridge 50 willbe described.

When ink is ejected from the recording head 39 at the time of executingthe recording operation, the ink in the second storage chamber 105 issucked from the communication port 129 to the recording head 39. As theink decreases, the liquid level of the ink in the second storage chamber105 descends. Thus, the first opening 141 of the closed gas flow passage104 is opened. When the first opening 141 of the gas flow passage 104 isopened, the gas-liquid substitution is executed as described above, andink is supplied from the first storage chamber 53 to the second storagechamber 105. Ink is supplied from the first storage chamber 53 to thesecond storage chamber 105 so as to compensate for the consumption ofink in the recording head 39, and the height of the liquid level of theink in the second storage chamber 105 is kept at the position of thefirst opening 141 of the gas flow passage 104.

When the ink in the first storage chamber 53 becomes empty, by replacingthe empty ink cartridge 50 with another ink cartridge 50 filled withink, the multifunction machine 10 can continuously execute the recordingoperation.

Technical Effect of Embodiment

With the ink supplying device 15 according to the embodiment, since thefirst storage chamber 53 and the second storage chamber 105 areconnected to each other via the gas flow passage 104 and the liquid flowpassage 103, ink in the first storage chamber 53 can be supplied to thesecond storage chamber 105 by the gas-liquid substitution. Since thefirst storage chamber 53 is disposed above the second storage chamber105, ink is supplied from the first storage chamber 53 to the secondstorage chamber 105 in accordance with the decrease in the ink in thesecond storage chamber 105. The buffer chamber 97 is positioned belowthe first storage chamber 53 and the second storage chamber 105 ispositioned below the buffer chamber 97. Accordingly, the space todispose the first storage chamber 53, the second storage chamber 105,and the buffer chamber 97 is reduced as compared to the case where thefirst storage chamber 53, the second storage chamber 105, and the bufferchamber 97 are disposed in other positions. The reduction of the spacecan suppress increasing the size of the device that supplies ink to therecording unit 24, which includes the ink cartridge 50, the sub tank100, and the buffer tank 90.

Further, the atmospheric communication passage 147 and the ink cartridge50 are both disposed above the buffer tank 90 to thereby reduce thewidth in the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9 ofthe device that supplies ink to the recording unit 24.

Further, in a case where the multifunction machine 10 is inclined,communication flow passage 145 extending in the gravity directionprevents the countercurrent of the liquid in the second storage chamber105, flowing from the second storage chamber 105 to the buffer tank 90.

Further, the ink cartridge 50 and the buffer tank 90 respectivelydefining the first storage chamber 53 and the buffer chamber 97 arearranged or aligned in the same line extending in the front-reardirection 8. In other words, a portion of the first storage chamber 53is horizontally aligned with a portion of the buffer chamber 97.Accordingly, this configuration can suppress increasing the size in theup-down direction 7 of the device that supplies ink to the recordingunit 24.

Further, the ink cartridge 50 and the buffer tank 90 respectivelydefining the first storage chamber 53 and the buffer chamber 97 arearranged or aligned in the same line extending in the up-down direction7. In other words, a portion of the first storage chamber 53 isvertically aligned with a portion of the buffer chamber 97. Accordingly,this configuration can suppress increasing the size in the front-reardirection 8 and the left-right direction 9 of the device that suppliesink to the recording unit 24.

Further, the ink cartridge 50 is attachable to and detachable from thesub tank 100 in the front-rear direction 8, thereby providing a goodoperability in the exchanging operation of the ink cartridge 50.

The liquid flow passage 103 and the gas flow passage 104 have the firstopenings 131, 141 below the second openings 132, 142 in the secondstorage chamber 105. Accordingly, the ink in the second storage chamber105 is prevented from causing a countercurrent in the liquid flowpassages 103, 104.

The buffer tank 90, the joint 102, and the protruding portion 65 that isa part of the ink cartridge 50 are arranged or aligned in a lineextending in the front-rear direction 8. In other words, a portion ofthe protruding portion 65, a portion of the joint 50, and a portion ofthe buffer tank 90 are aligned in the horizontal direction. Accordingly,this configuration can suppress increasing the size in the up-downdirection 7 of the device that supplies ink to the recording unit 24.

The upper surface of the sub-lower wall 55 in the ink cartridge 50 isinclined downward toward the protruding portion 65. Accordingly, the inkin the first storage chamber 53 can easily flow toward the communicationport 61 even when the ink in the first storage chamber 53 is consumedand the liquid surface is close to the sub-lower wall 55.

Further, the bottom surface of the upper wall 91 in the buffer tank 90is inclined upward toward the atmospheric communication passage 147.Accordingly, when ink flows in the counter direction to enter the bufferchamber 97, air is not stuck on the bottom surface of the upper wall 91in the buffer tank 90. Such stuck air may prevent the ink in the bufferchamber 97 from flowing back along communication flow passage 145. Inthis case, the gas flow passage 104 is shut by air to prevent thegas-liquid substitution. The above configuration avoids causing thestuck air, whereby the gas-liquid substitution is not hindered.

Further, the upper wall 91 of the buffer tank 90 supports the inkcartridge 50 from below, the buffer tank 90 serves as the support memberof the ink cartridge 50. Accordingly, as compared to a case where asupport member is disposed other than the upper wall 91, thisconfiguration can suppress increasing the size of the device thatsupplies ink to the recording unit 24, which includes the ink cartridge50, the sub tank 100, and the buffer tank 90.

In the ink supplying device 15 according to the embodiment, the liquidflow passage 103 has the vertical portion 133 and the horizontal portion134, and the gas flow passage 104 has the vertical portion 143 and thehorizontal portion 144. The extending direction of the liquid flowpassage 103 is not limited to the above embodiment, and the liquid flowpassage 103 may have at least one of the vertical portion 133 and thehorizontal portion 134. Similarly, the extending direction of the gasflow passage 104 is not limited to the above embodiment, and the gasflow passage 104 may have at least one of the vertical portion 143 andthe horizontal portion 144.

According to the above embodiment, the horizontal portion 134 and thehorizontal portion 144 of the liquid flow passage 103 and the gas flowpassage 104 are both formed in the single member, joint 102.Alternatively, the ink supplying device 15 may have two joints such thatone of the joints may be formed with at least part of the liquid flowpassage 103 and the other joint may be formed with at least part of thegas flow passage 104.

According to the above embodiment, the atmospheric communication passage147 extends upward from the buffer chamber 97, and alternatively, theatmospheric communication passage 147 may extend in the front-reardirection 8 or left-right direction 9 and may be bent to extend upward.

According to the above embodiment, communication flow passage 145extends in the up-down direction 7. Alternatively, communication flowpassage 145 may extend in the front-rear direction 8 or left-rightdirection 9, as long as the communication flow passage 145 is incommunication with the buffer chamber 97.

According to the above embodiment, at least part of the first storagechamber 53 and at least part of the buffer chamber 97 are arranged in aline extending in the front-rear direction 8. Alternatively, at leastpart of the first storage chamber 53 and at least part of the bufferchamber 97 may be individually arranged in different lines extending inthe front-rear direction 8.

According to the above embodiment, the protruding portion 65, the joint102, and the atmospheric communication portion 70 are arranged in a lineextending in the front-rear direction 8. Alternatively, the protrudingportion 65, the joint 102, and the atmospheric communication portion 70may be individually arranged in different lines extending in thefront-rear direction 8.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid storing device comprising: a firstchamber configured to store liquid; a second chamber configured to storeliquid; a liquid passage, through which the first chamber is incommunication with the second chamber, the liquid passage having a firstend and a second end opposite to the first end; a gas passage, throughwhich the first chamber is in communication with the second chamber, thegas passage having a first end and a second end opposite to the firstend; and an air communication passage allowing the second chamber tocommunicate with an outside of the liquid storing device, at least partof the second chamber being disposed below the first chamber, the secondchamber having a wide-width portion and a narrow-width portion, thewide-width portion being defined by a pair of opposite walls which areapart from each other in a first direction, the first direction beingparallel with a horizontal direction, the narrow-width portion beingdefined by another pair of opposite walls which are apart from eachother in the first direction, a distance between the pair of oppositewalls defining the wide-width portion being greater than a distancebetween the pair of opposite walls defining the narrow-width portion,one end of the air communication passage being formed with an opening,through which the air communication passage is in communication with thewide-width portion of the second chamber, the first end of the liquidpassage being formed with a first opening, through which the liquidpassage is in communication with the narrow-width portion of the secondchamber, the first end of the gas passage being formed with a firstopening, through which the gas passage is in communication with thesecond chamber, at least part of the first opening of the gas passagebeing positioned in the narrow-width portion of the second chamber, thefirst opening of the gas passage being opened over an entire width ofthe narrow-width portion of the second chamber in the first direction,the first end of the gas passage being disposed between the one end ofthe air communication passage and the first end of the liquid passage ina second direction that is parallel to the horizontal direction and thatis orthogonal to the first direction.
 2. The liquid storing deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising a first communication passage,through which the first chamber is in communication with the secondchamber, the liquid passage and the gas passage being disposed withinthe first communication passage.
 3. The liquid storing device accordingto claim 2, wherein the first communication passage includes a wallseparating the liquid passage and the gas passage from each other. 4.The liquid storing device according to claim 1, wherein the firstopening of the liquid passage is opened over the entire width of thenarrow-width portion in the first direction.
 5. The liquid storingdevice according to claim 1, further comprising a valve configured toclose both of the liquid passage and the gas passage.
 6. The liquidstoring device according to claim 5, wherein the valve includes a singlevalve configured to close both of the liquid passage and the gaspassage.
 7. The liquid storing device according to claim 5, wherein thevalve is disposed at the second end of the liquid passage and the secondend of the gas passage.
 8. The liquid storing device according to claim1, wherein the second end of the gas passage is formed with a secondopening, through which the gas passage is in communication with thefirst chamber, wherein the second end of the liquid passage is formedwith a second opening, through which the liquid passage is incommunication with the first chamber, and wherein the second opening ofthe gas passage is disposed above the second opening of the liquidpassage.
 9. An image recording apparatus comprising: a liquid storingdevice; and a recording device, the liquid storing device comprising: afirst chamber configured to store liquid; a second chamber configured tostore liquid; a liquid passage, through which the first chamber is incommunication with the second chamber, the liquid passage having a firstend and a second end opposite to the first end; a gas passage, throughwhich the first chamber is in communication with the second chamber, thegas passage having a first end and a second end opposite to the firstend; and an air communication passage allowing the second chamber tocommunicate with an outside of the image recording apparatus, at leastpart of the second chamber being disposed below the first chamber, thesecond chamber having a wide-width portion and a narrow-width portion,the wide-width portion being defined by a pair of opposite walls whichare apart from each other in a first direction, the first directionbeing parallel with a horizontal direction, the narrow-width portionbeing defined by another pair of opposite walls which are apart fromeach other in the first direction, a distance between the pair ofopposite walls defining the wide-width portion being greater than adistance between the pair of opposite walls defining the narrow-widthportion, one end of the air communication passage being formed with anopening, through which the air communication passage is in communicationwith the wide-width portion of the second chamber, the first end of theliquid passage being formed with a first opening, through which theliquid passage is in communication with the narrow-width portion of thesecond chamber, the first end of the gas passage being formed with afirst opening, through which the gas passage is in communication withthe second chamber, at least part of the first opening of the gaspassage being positioned in the narrow-width portion of the secondchamber, the first opening of the gas passage being opened over anentire width of the narrow-width portion of the second chamber in thefirst direction, the first end of the gas passage being disposed betweenthe one end of the air communication passage and the first end of theliquid passage in a second direction that is parallel to the horizontaldirection and that is orthogonal to the first direction, and therecording device being configured to eject liquid supplied from thesecond chamber of the liquid storing device.
 10. The image recordingapparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a first communicationpassage, through which the first chamber is in communication with thesecond chamber, the liquid passage and the gas passage being disposedwithin the first communication passage.
 11. The image recordingapparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first communication passageincludes a wall separating the liquid passage and the gas passage fromeach other.
 12. The image recording apparatus according to claim 9,wherein the first opening of the liquid passage is opened over theentire width of the narrow-width portion in the first direction.
 13. Theimage recording apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising avalve configured to close both of the liquid passage and the gaspassage.
 14. The image recording apparatus according to claim 13,wherein the valve includes a single valve configured to close both ofthe liquid passage and the gas passage.
 15. The image recordingapparatus according to claim 13, wherein the valve is disposed at thesecond end of the liquid passage and the second end of the gas passage.16. The image recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein thesecond end of the gas passage is formed with a second opening, throughwhich the gas passage is in communication with the first chamber,wherein the second end of the liquid passage is formed with a secondopening, through which the liquid passage is in communication with thefirst chamber, and wherein the second opening of the gas passage isdisposed above the second opening of the liquid passage.